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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2013 Jul 25.
Published in final edited form as: Ethn Dis. 2011 Summer;21(3 0 1):S1–100-6.

Table 2.

Recommendations for restoration centers

  1. One or more restoration centers should be developed and sustained to support the wellness and resiliency of the community and to improve outcomes of depression and substance abuse. These centers should be targeted for persons of African descent and other vulnerable populations in South Los Angeles and surrounding areas. Centers may be full centers with a broad range of services (depression care, substance abuse care, social services, and resiliency / wellness activities). Developing centers would have one or more type of services and add other services over time.

  2. Centers should be designed as one-stop shops for mental health and substance abuse problems and to build wellness and resiliency. Centers should provide and coordinate services for diverse populations, and consider the needs of individuals, families, and the community. Center functions include:
    1. Coordinating access to the range of community services available for depression, mental health, and substance abuse, as well as holistic and alternative folk medicine programs that support wellness and resiliency.
    2. Providing outreach, education and training to increase community awareness and develop leadership, such as training for faith-based leaders to address mental health and substance abuse issues.
    3. Providing direct services to fill gaps as needed.

  3. The centers should promote cultural awareness and competency in program design and implementation.

  4. Centers should support client and community participation in program design and ongoing review.

  5. Policies and procedures should be developed to assure standards of quality of services. Management and financing training and support should be available to center directors and administrators.

  6. The functions and activities of different centers should be supported and coordinated through a board or association of restoration centers. This body should also develop mechanisms to support the sustainability of centers.

  7. This planning phase should be followed by phase 2 (a demonstration of at least one full center and a developing center). That demonstration should also evaluate the acceptability and impact of the centers and explore how they could be replicated and sustained in other areas of Los Angeles.